August 2011 rads

I think I will be on there. Just finished with chemo on Tuesday and had Neulesta shot today.

I just finished chemo last thursday, and only had to have 3 Leukine shots rather than 5. What a godsend that was!!  Not feeling so good today but each day is better.

Cyborg, I hope you are feeling ok today and not having any bad SE. A nice warm bath has saved me from the bone pain.

I see the radiation oc on July 18 to get situated also, I guess. My mom says they may have to make a special pillow, and I know they will do the tatoos. I have to have whole breast rads. No mamosite, it was up against the chest wall. I will have to have 35-37 treatments takes about 15min per. I think they will wait till August to start. I am just too tired and it has taken too long after each treatment to recoop. I need a rest!!!! 

Looks like I will be in good company ladies!

Hi guys,

Some of us meet again, glad to find this thread.  I will have my last Chemo on Aug 1st and could be starting radiation by the end of Aug.

Hope everyone is feeling good and just remember we are getting closer to getting our life back, yaaaaa.

Many hugs to all

Pam 

Hi,

I can relate to the idea of going into radiation with some reluctance, not kicking and screaming yet. I too may be getting radiation this August.    I just finished round six of chemo (Yay!) and had a pretty rough week.  I guess the effects of chemo are cumulative and this last one hit me a lot with neuropathy, fatigue and low grade nausea.  Now the radiation oncologist says we should start in August with 5 weeks of daily radiation as an extra insurance policy.  I had a  Rt mastectomy, had a tissue expander put in which is almost filled.Also had an  axilary node disection and they found 2 out of 25 nodes that were positve.  I am concerned about the impact of radiation on the skin/ breast reconstruction but mainly the issue of  lymphadema.  I understand the risk gets worse with the combination of  axilary node removal and then radiation to that area as well.  I keep wondering if the risks of havig skin problems, and lymphadema outweigh the risks of getting local reoccurence of cancer back.  I saw another radiation oncologist and she said I was in the "grey" area.  since the margin was very small and next to skin and their were only 2 nodes involved.  I am curious if the radiation oncologists  have mentioned the risk of lymphadema, or skin breakdown and what they have said to people on this list.  .   

Julianna51,

Thanks for starting this thread, you will find that these women on here are so much support and we are all here for each other and will get each other through this.  

Sorry you have to be here, hang in there it will be over before you know it.

Lots of hugs

Neecee,  nice to see you here, you bring a lot to all of us.  Hang in there my last Chemo was scheduled for the 28th of July, but I have a girls weekend scheduled for that weekend and my Dr. said I needed to go and feel good so she re-scheduled it for Aug 1st. Yaaaa.  I just can not wait to be done with this part of my life.

Hope you are able to work everything out with work and RO, it is hard everyday.

See you Pam 

Mamav - I'll be looking forward to your posts, especially with how it works out with your job. I'll start the daily rads right when school's back in session, and it's a 45 min trip from work to rads. I'm hoping for a late appt, since I can't imagine getting a substitute for that long right at the start of school.

I'll be joining too...had my last TC Jul 12.  Beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I will be starting July 25th and going through August.

Welcome to everyone!



Neece hope you won't be too tired to close every night! We will get through this together! Another part of this journey

Merilee I will be thinking of you Monday 7/25 as I start treatment. May I ask how many treatmments are in your future?

I really hate that this is coming...but glad to start the journey and get it over with.

Yeap. They are my schnauzers. Thanks for the thought about healing beams.I like it. I am very glad that your chemo is done.

I am also working full time through the rads.  I am hoping the fatigue is managable. I have a very physical job and on my feet all day. The good thing is my RO has gotten me the last appt of the day so I can go home and rest.  

I packed a rad bag today. You might ask what is in it.

The 1st thing is my iPod. I asked during the sim if I could bring it and they said the suite has a iPod docket. I need to select something that will calm my nerves.

Lotion is next. I have been lotioning for 3 weeks now because I was peeling near the incision site when I first saw my RO. She gave me the lotion and said to start using it.

Next I have an big cheap T shirt from Walmart . I have been reading that there is a possibility that they might mark you during some treatments and I don't want that on my everyday clothes. I have 5 small tattoos also, plus some line drawn covered with a clear dressing (tegaderm) near the nipple. They told me 1.5 weeks ago that I needed to keep that mark on.

I also have a bottle of water and a bag of almonds for after treatment.

Finally I have a zipper hoodie  to cover the big t shirt if I don't where the bra.

Be strong and never forget we are here to help.

I would like to join you all too.  Had my frist appt. today with the RO - go for mapping August 3, rads to start August 8.  They said I might be a candidate for 4 weeks of radiation instead of 6 - I was feeling very nervous when I first got to this appt., like I was going to cry, but they made me feel comfortable and at ease.